Coneflowers (Echinacea) are the stars of the summer garden. It is almost impossible to take your eyes off of the masses of colorful flowers that stand in a long-lasting display. Their colorful petals are arranged around beautiful cones that show in orange, bronze, yellow, and green. Flowers come in an array of colors from purples, pinks, oranges, reds, yellows, and white. There are even green flowering varieties!
Aside from being gorgeous, these plants are tough, withstanding both cold winters and hot summers. Coneflowers perform best in fertile soil but are adaptable to dry, lean sites and tolerant of clay as long as it’s not constantly soggy. They’re low-maintenance once established, drought-tolerant, and reliable. Though they can be short-lived, they are happy to self-seed and easy to count on for years to come.
Gardeners aren’t the only ones that love Echinacea! A host of pollinators are crazy about them too. Butterflies and bees are easy to find if coneflowers are nearby, so they’re a must-have plant for pollinator gardens. As the cones dry later in the season, birds feast upon their many seeds, so be sure to wait until late spring to cut coneflowers back so that birds can enjoy them.
Coneflowers We Love
White Swan A beautiful variety with white flowers and large orange/bronze cones. The medium sized plants bear many white, honey-scented flowers. Worth it for the fragrance alone!
Purple The purple coneflower is a classic. Tall, vigorous plants are covered in light purple to pinkish flowers. Show-stopping planted in masses and at the back of the garden where they create an amazing backdrop for other midsummer bloomers.
Anything Bright There are so many bright colors to choose from, whether it be oranges, pinks, reds, or yellows that we hesitate to pick a favorite. Many varieties come with a more compact habit, so it’s easy to find a spot for them!
